Hydraulic drive unit for washing machines



Jan. 15, 1952 M. F. wn c ox HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINESFiled July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 BY I firra FIVE Y6.

Jan. 15, 1952 w dox 2,582,810

. HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 25, 1945 8Sheets-Sheet 2 E1 INVENTOR.

Jan. 15, 1952 w cox 2,582,810

HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 25, 1945 8Sheets-Sheet 5 Jan. 15, 1952 M. F. WlLCOX 2,582,810

HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 23, 1945 8Sheets-Sheet 4 I N V EN TOR. 279/50/7 771445220X Jan. 15, 1952 M. F.WILCOX 2,582,810

HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 23, 1945 8sheets-met 5' i 1 1952 M. F. WILCOX 2,582,810

HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES I Filed} July 25, 1945 8Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. [7222 2 011 FWz'Z'ca/t,

Jan. 15, 1952 F, w cox 2,582,810

HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES Filed July 23, 1945 8Sheets-Sheet 7 E s E- fir TOIF/VE ys,

Jan. 15, 1952 MP. WILCOX 2,582,810

HYDRAULIC DRIVE UNIT FOR WASHING MACHINES I Fild July 25, 1945 aSheets-Sheet 8 17251} 5:41265 off-wrin aff- Car 210 9 4/ 65 712,166, /80fwz'zy arr Cam 2/0 open Fm! C'em 2d6 r7 fro/r1115 V 3 which the driveunit and other parts of the mechanism are located. The clothesreceptacle is rotatable about a horizontal axis and at one end has atrunnion |4 journalled in a bearing l5, while its other end has atubular stub shaft journalled in a bearing l6 mounted in a partitiondividing the cabinet into parts I9 and 3. This tubular stub shaftpermits connecting and disconnecting a drive unit from the receptaclemerely by inserting a splined end of the drive shaft forming part of thedrive unit as will be hereinafter mentioned. The drive means foroperating the receptacle comprises an electric motor 29 having a pulley2| engaged by a belt .22 in turn trained about a pulley 23 on the outerend of a shaft 24 projecting from a drive unit 25.

Now referring to Fig. 2 in particular, the drive unit 25 comprises acasing 21 having a cylindrioal bore 28 therein and end bearing plates 29and 3!) closing the ends of the bore. is drivingly connected to the endof a stub shaft 3| which is journalled in a bearing 33 mounted in theplate 30, and in order to prevent the escape of liquid from the interiorof the casing 27, a suitable sealing means 34 is provided in plate 39around the shaft 3|. At its inner end the shaft 3| is drivinglyconnected to a pump rotor 36 by means of a key 31, and this pump may beof conventional character and as shown includes a body 38 having radialblades 39. These blades are slidable in radial slots provided in thebody 38 and the outer edges of the blades are adapted to slidinglycontact the inner periphery 46 of a stationary ring 4| located in thebore 28. The inner periphery 4|! of thering 4| is eccentric to the axisof the body 38 and consequently as the latter is rotated, the bladesmove inwardly and outwardly in their radial slots. If desired, springsmay be mounted in the slots to press against the radially inner ends ofthe blades so as to ings 59 and 5| are provided. The bearing 59rotatably supports the inner end 53 of the shaft 3| and it might bementioned in' this connection that the shaft has shoulders 54 and 56 forproperly locating the shaft in relation to the bearings. A pilot orlocating pin 60 extends through openings in the valve body 43, the valveplate 44, the eccentric ring 4| and in the plate so as to locate theseparts in predetermined circumferential positions.

Between the valve body 43 and plate 29, a hydraulic motor 62 is providedand this motor may comprise a body 63 having blades 64 located in radialslots in the body. The motor is substantially like the pump exceptingthat fluid supplied to it drives it instead of the blades driving thefluid as in the case of the pump. The outer edges of the blades areadapted to contact the inner periphery 56 of a ring 61 located betweenthe valve plate and plate 29, and the inner periphery of the ring iseccentric to the motor axis. It might be noted, however, that theeccentricity of the ring in the motor is opposite to the eccentricity ofthe ring in the pump. A pilot pin 68 extending through openings in thering 61, valve plate 45, valve body 43, and end plate 29 locates Thepulley 23 the parts in predetermined circumferential positions. The endplates 29 and 30 are fastened to the casing 2! by bolts 15, and fromthis it follows that the assembly so far described is fixed incircumferential positions excepting, of course, for the rotary parts.

The motor body 63 is keyed to a shaft 1| having its inner end journalledin the bearing 5| and its outer end journalled in a bearing 12 locatedin the end plate 29. A suitable seal 13 around the shaft prevents theescape of liquid from the housing 21. At its outer end the shaft 1| hasa splined portion 15 Which is adapted to be inserted into a splinedsleeve in the tubular shaft portion connected to the clothes receptacle|2.. This releasable spline connection may generally correspond to theconnection disclosed in the previously identified copending applicationfor patent, and it is to be understood that the drive unit 25 thereforemay be easily disconnected from and connected to the clothes receptacle.As shown by Fig. l, the housing 21 may be connected to the partition I"!by bolts 16.

Generally it might be said now that the means for driving the receptaclecomprises an electric motor which directly drives the pump 36 in thecasing 21 and the fluid from this pump is directed to the motor 62 so asto cause the latter to drive the receptacle. The receptacle is drivenfirst in one direction and then the other by reversing the motor 62 andthis result is obtained by controllin the flow of fluid from the pump tothe motor and also controlling the exhaust of fluid from the motor. Suchreversing movement of the motor occurs during washing and rinsing stagesof the cycle of operation and after rinsing, the fiow of fluid from thepump to the motor is increased so as to cause the motor to operate at amuch higher speed in order to effect centrifugal drying of the clothes.Controls used in changing from the washing to the drying speeds alsoinclude a control for predetermining the direction of rotation of themotor in the high speed drying stage. Also in the automatic operation ofthe machine, controls are provided for causing water first to besupplied to the tub for washing the clothes, for causing the water to bedrained at the end of the washing stage, for then causing inlet anddrainage of water for a plurality of rinsing periods and then forcausing drainage of water when high speed drying is to be effected.Finally, the controls include a means for startin the electric motor,for stopping it at the end of a cycle of operation and for advancingthrough or omitting of any stage of operation so that the cycle ofoperations may be shortened or so that one or more stages of operationmay be omitted.

Now directing attention to Figs. 3 to 7, inclusive, the valve body 43has a pair of vertical bores and 8| disposed at opposite sidesrespectively of the axis of the body, and these bores have valve sleeves82 and 83 fixed firmly therein. A valve element 84 having spaced heads85 and 86 is slidable in the sleeve 82 while a similar valve 81 havingspaced heads 88 and 89 is slidable in the sleeve 83. These valves arenormally urged upwardly by springs 90 and 9| in the lower ends of thesleeves and which engage the heads 86 and 89 at their upper ends and astrip or plate 93 at their lower ends. The strip 93 is secured to thevalve body bya bolt 34 and opposite ends of the strip have openings asindicated at 95 to allow the lower ends of the valves to move freelythrough the strip. It will be noted that both ends of the, sle eves areopen to the interior of the casing 21: At thein upper ends-trim valves84 and 81' hav'e ends which are rectangular; in cross section, and'theseends are guided in slots 91* and 98* in ablock- 99 secured to the-body43 by bolts I: Downwardmovement-of the valves at predetermined timesis-effectedby-camswhich presently will be described and returnandupwardmovement ofthe valves so-th'at theywill follow the cams is effectedby-th'e'springs 90 and 95.

Water orother liquid'fluid' 1 for-the drive-unit is contained withinthe-casing; Z'Iand feeds to the pump by means-of*a--'set ofgrillopenings shown bestrby Figstdand 6". Thsegrillopehings lead totheinnerside of the valve-plate44 and with the plate in position, theopenings communicate with an arcuate slot -I'Il2-'. As the blades at theopposite side oftheplate fl move over this slot I02;fiuidis-drawnthrough the grill openings I01 and through-theslot-IIlZandis carried by the blades beyond the end of the slot. This movementof-the fluid into the spaces between the blades occurs-as the bladesare-moving, radially outwardly and'then; of course; as the blades passthe high pointof eccentricityin the sleeve 4|", the space between-theblades-must decrease and the'fluid'in this-spaceis discharged as thespace decreases: Discharge'of' the-fluid occurs through an opening I03inplate 44, and this opening at theinner side of the plate communicateswith a groove I04 whichin-turncommunicates with an opening- I05 in-- thevalve body'43'; 7

Now referring to- Fig. 3; fluid entering-the openin IE5; enters agroove- "16- in-the valve sleeve 83- and throughthis; and openings I01in the sleeve to a radialiopening-Iilil'leading to the bore ll in thevalve body. The'fiui'd'then flows, as shown by the arrow line marked-I,through an opposite radial opening I09-in the valve body whichcommunicates with openings IIIlin the sleeve 82 between the two'valveheads'BS-and 86; With the valve element-8 4' in itsdepressed position,-the fluid thenflows dovvr-iwardly and then enters openings I I I inthe-sleeve which are in communication witha bore-l IZ-in the valve body.bore inturn communicates with an opening; IE3 leading-to the motor-endfaceofthe valve body 43, as best shown by Fig: 7, andat this side of thevalve-body, the opening l I3 communicates with a circumferentiallyextendinggroove or space Il4'in*the face of the valvebody.

With theend plate lfi in place; the fluidin space H4 flows through acircumferentially extending opening I I5 in the-valve plate-45- andconsequently the fluid then may flow intothe space between-blades of themotor. The direction of travel, of course, will be inthedirection-wherein thespace between the blades willincrease andconsequently, fluid supplied to the groove I I'5Wil1 cause the motor tooperate in apredetermined direction. Fluid is exhausted at thediametrically opposite sidecf the motor through-acircumferentiall-yextending groove H6 in the plate- 45', and fromthisgroove itentersa groove II! in-the valve body which communicates with anopening IIB leading to an annular groove II9= around the upper end ofthe valve sleeve 32. From: this groove the fluid enters openings l2liinthersleeve and then flows outwardly through the end of the sleeve'andinto th-e'casing. From this it should be understood that with the pumpdriven by the electric motor,- fluid will be supplied' from-the pump tothe motor so as to: cause it 'to'rotate. in apredeterminerb direction-.1

then flow through 2 these .openings': and intonthe opening: I I 8: Now:referring .tocFig- 7,:theefl1iid entering 1 opening I I wilLflOw: into:the; ferential: opening; I I6; ina'the; valveoplatezfi: and thus enterthe motor: from. the diametrically; posite; side; This automatically?cause:- the; motor to :reverse;

Fluid is exhaustedgfrom the: motorrthrougnthd circumferentialppening,Il-irthroug-hithe opening II 3 andoagain referring; tov Fig.3 3, ,the,:fluid: novv v will exhaust as shown by the armwlinezdrthrou h theopenings I I I, and; then since-therheadatifiz is above; theopenings-I II, itowillvflow downwardly and exhaust from, the lower endof: sleeve;82; Frornthisit should be evident that reversaluof 13116 ,.1110001"periodically can be; obtained merely,

by: shiftingthe valve element 8lwupwardly a-nd downwardly; Theopeningszin 1 the-plate: and in the valve body indicate howthisvreyersal'iscefi fected, andait shouldbcunderstood, that, theopenings may be, varieda-onthat bleed-.- opening- S or grooves may. be.-provided where-necessary so asto avoid; any possibility; ofifluid beingtrapped and thereby avoid any interferencwwith rotation of the motor or,pump: as thecase may be:

Inorder to, efiect high speed rotation ,of-rthe motor when drying.ofrthe clothes is tobe efiected, a greater amount of .fluidi issupplied vtothemotor, and this is. accomplished as follows. The valveelement 81 is shifteddownwardly,by a cam, pre,s-. ently; tOgbementioned, so astocause-thephead 89- to be movedbelowopenings I25 inthe-valve sleeve 83.- These openings communicate, with an annulargrooves I26 in'the sleeverand thegroove in turnucommunicatesl with anopening: I 27L in the-valve body and which, as best shownbvEig. 6,.leads to. the-right end, face of I the ;valve.. body, The opening I2] inthe right end faceiof theivalve bodyis incommunication withv acircumferential slot I28 in the plate 44. It is now evident that fluidmay be discharged from the pump, not only through the opening I03,groove iclltandlopenin I05, but: that it. alsomay, enterthe opening I08and flow through the opening I21;

Reverting-back to Fig. 3,- it is now. evident that fluidentering openingI2 1 may flow into thespace in thecvalve sleeve 83. shownby the arrowline ;5 between the heads 88, and 89 since the head,,89 is in its lowerposition, and that it then may flow through the valve. body and to theopposite, sleeve 82. If, the valve. stem 84 continued its? reversingmovement, the. motor'.-would operate at a higher ratev of Speed, and;continue, reversing, but it is desired-only .to rotate the ,motor in,oneadirection at this higher speed andaccordingly whenthe h-ighyspeed:control valve 8:11-18; moved; downwardly, it Sv desired that thereversingvalve 84'. be held in onegpositiiont As will beseen: presently;means are'provided,tori-maintaining the valve Skin-its lower position;when the-valve 8'! iSyShif-td and during thetime the lattenis held inits; lower positioni If for any reason the" pressurevon thefluid shoulddevelop; to anundesirablyhigh: amount; a

relief or bypass is desirable and this bypass as shown by Fig. 2, maycomprise a ball I normally closing the upper end of a radial opening I3Iin the valve body leading to the bore 41. This ball is normally heldagainst its seat by a spring I32 and the spring is retained in positionby a threaded bushing I33 having a central opening I34 through which thefluid may escape in the. event the pressure forces the ball off itsseat.

For effecting automatic operation of the valves in predeterminedrelation, a cam arrangement is provided as best shown by Fig. 3.Referring to this figure, the cam arrangement includes a cam shaft I35which is turnable in a sleeve bearing I36 mounted in a bushing I31secured in an opening in the housing. This shaft at its opposite end isturnable in a similar bushing I40 extending through an opening in theopposite side of the housing. This shaft is keyed by means of a stud I4Ito a sleeve I42, and the sleeve in turn carries and is keyed by a keyI39 to all of the cams for controlling the mechanism with the exceptionof the cam for effecting reverse movement of the valve 84. Since thewashing cycle requires a substantially long period of time on the order,for instance, of forty minutes, it is necessary that the shaft I35 andhence the sleeve I42 be driven at a very slow rate of speed and in factturned through one complete revolution in the period of time mentioned.

For effecting this slow drive, a worm wheel I43 is mounted on the shaftI 35 and this wheel in turn is driven by a worm I44 mounted on the innerend of a shaft I45 extending through the casing wall. The outer end ofthis shaft is keyed to a pulley I46 which is driven by a belt I41 and inturn the belt is driven by a pulley portion I48 on the previouslymentioned pulley 23. The worm wheel I43 carries at one point on itsperiphery a small rotary pinion I50 and this pinion meshes with theteeth on a second pinion I5I which is also turnable on the shaft I 35.Also the pinion I50 meshes with teeth I52 formed on the inner end of thestationary bushing I31. One more tooth is provided on the pinion I5I ascompared to the number of teeth on pinion I52 and consequently when thepinion I5I travels around on the teeth of pinion I52, the pinion I5Iwill turn very slowly and during one revolution of the worm wheel I43,the pinion I5I will turn only the distance between the two teeth.

The pinion I5I is provided with one-way clutch teeth I54 which engage aspring-pressed dog I56 slidably mounted in a sleeve element I51 securedto the shaft I35 by means of a cross pin I58. When the pinion I5I isturning in one direction, therefore, it will drive the sleeve and hence,the

shaft and cams thereon but the driving connection permits independentturning of the shaft and sleeve as will be readily evident. Suchindependent or advancing rotation of the shaft I35 may be effected bymeans of a knob or wheel I60 on the outer end of the shaft, as shown byFig. 1. This permits the cams to be advanced to any degree desired andhence, the washing machine operation to be advanced accordingly.

Control of the rotational movement of the clothes receptacle is effectedby cams I6I and I62 fastened to the sleeve I42 and a third cam I 63fastened to the worm I43. The cam I63 turns relatively fast as comparedto the cams I6I and I62 and, for example, may make two revolutions perminute while the cams I6I and I62 may make one revolution in fortyminutes. Both of the cams I62 and I63 are aligned with the upper end ofthe'valve'element 84 while the cam I6I is-aligned with the upper end ofvalve element 81.

Directing particular attention to Fig. 14, the cam element I63 has twohigh portions I65 and I66. and two intermediate or low portions I61 andI88. The high portions I65 and I66 cause the valve element 84 to movedownwardly whereas the low portions I61 and I68 allow the valve to bereturned by the spring 90. Twice in each revolution of the cam,therefore, the valve moves downwardly and likewise twice in eachrevolution it moves upwardly. This means then that the motor is reversedtwice in each revolution of the cam and since the cam turns twice in oneminute, the motor is reversed four times in one minute. Normally it isdesired that the receptacle will be turned through about 7 to 10revolutions before it is reversed.

Now referring to Fig. 15, the cam I6I has a high portion I69 adapted todepress the valve element 81 after the cam has turned through a majorportion of its revolution. After a long period of washing machineoperation, therefore, and after expiration of the major portion of theforty minutes mentioned, the high part I69 of the cam will depress thevalve element 81 and as previously described, the motor will rotate at ahigher speed. Before this is effected, however, it is desirable that thevalve element 84 be held in its lowermost position, and this isaccomplished by the cam element I62. Referring to Fig. 16, it will benoted that this cam has a high portion I10 generally corresponding tothe high portion I69 of the cam I6I but it is of greater circumferentiallength so that the high portion I10 of the cam I 62 is in a positionwhere it holds the valve element 84 depressed while the high portion I69of cam I6I is holding valve element 81 depressed.

In order to insure that the high portion I10 of cam I62 will ride overthe end of valve element 84 instead of engaging the side of the valveelement at a time when the valve is in its raised position, an auxiliaryretaining spring element I12 is provided on the cam. This spring elementincludes a circular end portion I13 fitted tightly in an opening I14 inthe cam I62 and a radially projecting spring portion I15 extendingoutwardly through a radial slot I16 next to the high .portion of thecam. The width of the slot and its relation to the projecting springportion I15 are such that if the valve element 84 is in its raisedposition when the spring element contacts the side of the valve elementduring movement of the cam, the spring portion will flex sufliciently toallow the valve element to be returned by cam I63 without causing anybinding of the high portion I10 of cam I62 against the side of the valveelement. Assuming then that the valve element 84 is in its raisedposition when the spring I15 contacts the side of the valve element, thespring will flex until the valve element is depressed by cam I63 andthen the outer end of the spring will reversely flex as a result of itsspring action until it is under the end of the valve element. When thisoccurs, the cam I63 can continue moving as it will and the valve element84 will remain depressed since the end of spring portion I15 and thehigh part I10 of cam I62 will now act to hold the valve depressed. Fromthis explanation it should be evident now that the receptacle may bereversely rotated and then rotated at high speed in one direction only.

For controlling the inlet of water to the tub I I, a pair of cams I andIBI are provided on the -ing indicated at E84.

tlib H.

assaeio cam sleeve -1-'42,-'and *these resp'ec-tively engage valvestems+82 and i583 shown by Fig. :3; projecting'throughthe -upper cover wallTo'f the'c'as lhese valves extend upwardly in-to and form partof'athermostatically controlled valve device ist. "As shown by Fig. 9

"applicationfor patent may be used. presently will be mentionedin In redetail in"cohnectibn with the cams, the wa't'er at'thehighetemperature-is allo'wed to iiow to thetub for ial washing of the clothesand'then for subsequentrinses, "the valve I83 is opened to allow waterata lower temperature to flow'to the-tub.

Water is drained from the tub by means of a drain I92 connected to thebottom'of the tub and this drain leads to a valve chamber I93 shown byFig. 8 in particular, which has a valve lMfor controlling the iiow'ofwater. The valve chamber forms partof a centrifugal pump 1'95 and thispump is connected to a drain I96 which in turn may be connected to anexterior drain. The pump isdriven by the pulley 1'9! engaging a beltit'll and the belt in turneng'agesa pulley 139 on the shaft of theelectric motor. Thevalve 194 'is connected to a 'vertically extending'operating rod 209 and as shown'by'Fig. .l,-this rod at its upper end isconnected to an arm 28:! in "turn pivoted as indicated at 263 on thecasing "cover I84. p Now referring to Fig. 3 in conjunction with Fig. 1,the arm 2b! is engaged by the upper 'end 'of a pin 2M projectingupwardly from the cover 58d, and this pin projects downwardly and isengaged by earn 235 on the sleeve I42. J When the pin 2% is movedupwardly theva'l've J94 opens and then when the pin moves downwardly,the valve closes either by reason of gravit or if desired, the valve maybe spring pressed as indicated at 268 in Fig. 8, so that it will beclosed by the spring.

The electric motor is started at the beginning of the cycle and isstopped at the end of the cycle by cam m which as best shown by Figs. 3and 10, engages an arm 2B2 pivoted on the underside of cover i8 1. Thisarm is in contact with a switch operating pin: 2i5 extending through theplate 184 and when the plate is pushed upwardly, a switch 2! 5 in themotor circuit is closed and then when the arm drops, the switch isopened. It will be noted that the cam has a notch 21? "adapted toreceive a corresponding projection 21s on the arm M2 and when thisprojection drops into the notch, the switch is open and at all othertimes the switch is closed since the high part of the cam engagesthe-pro- .iection 218.

Referring now briefly to Figs. -11, 12,:and 13, it will be notedthat theoamltil in Fig. 11 which governs the firstinlet of water has asingle-high portion indicated at 226 sothat this cam controls waterinitially entering the tub for washing purposes. The cam 5-8:! shownbyFig. 13, has three high portions 22!, 222, and 223 so as to causerinsing Water to enter the tub at three l *differenttimes in :order't'oeffect rinsing at three different periods in the operation. The draincontrol cam indicated at205 in Fig. '12, has three portions 225,22'6yand-22'I and a longer high portion 228. The first'three highportionsdrain the water respectively 'at the end of the Washingoperation and the'first two'rinses, while the longer high portion 228drains the water at the end of the third rinseand holds the drain openduring the highspeed drying operation.

Now referring to Figs. 3 and 10 to 17, the washing operation is asfollows. With the projection 2I8 on cam 210 in the notch 2l'l, themachine is stopped since the circuit to the motor is broken. At the'sametime,the high speed control valve 81 is in its upper position since thehigh cam portion I69 on cam portion It! has allowed the valve to moveupwardly. JWith particular reference to the cam 236 controlling .20 thedrainage of 'water, it will be observed that the drain valve is open.Now by turning the cam shaft I35 by means of the knob on its outer end,the cam 2H] will be turned sufiiciently to cause the notch 2l'l to movepast the projection H8 25 on the switch arm 212, and this will close theswitch to the electric motor and operation of the machine will begin.When the motor starts, the cam shaft then will "be driven by the motorand from here on the "operation will be auto- .30 matic until theprojection 2 it on the switch arm drops'again into the-notch 211.

When the motor starts, the first thing that occurs is that the cam 206moves to allow the drain to close while the cam 18!] will open the xvalve I82 to allow Water to enter the tub. This entry of water willcontinue as long as the high portion 229 on the cam holds thevalve' openand if desired, afloat'cont-rol may be placedin the line I89leading-from the thermostatic valve 40 to the tub with the'fioat controlalso connected to the bottom of the tub so that only a certain amount of'Water'can enter the tub.. Such a float control is providedin the HymanD. Brotman application for patent previously identified.

Whilethe water is entering the tub and thereafter, the receptacle will'reversely rotate due to the action of the 'cami'fit causing the valve84 to reciprocate, and the washing action continues until the'high'part225 on 'thedrain cam 20B opens the drain val-vaand then the water drainsfrom the tub. The drain'valve then closes and the water inlet valve 183is opened by the first high part 221 on "thec'am 181. Water enters thetub then for a period of time which 15 also may depend upon the floatcontrol mentioned and then the'waterinlet valve closes.

After a certain period of time, the drain then opens due to the portion226 on the earn 206.

Three rinses occur which are controlled in this manner by theinle't cam'po'r'tion's -22], 222, and

55 is ready for drying. After a period of time with the drain valve thus"open and which is suincient to allow drainage from the tub, a uniformrise portion leading to the high part 1'69 of cam It! acts to begin themovement of valve 81 7 downwardly and the's ynchronising cam [it acts tohold the valve 84 in its depressed condition. The receptacle now willrotate in one direction only and as the high part [69 on the cam 'IEIacts to increase the fluid supply to the hydraulic motor, the receptacleis driven at the high drying speed. This speed continues until the highportion I69 on cam 16! allows the valve 81 to rise and then the machineslows down to it original reversing speed. The valve 84 is allowed tomove upwardly by the synchronizing cam I!!! after the valve 81 movesupwardly, and this movement of valve 84 may occur either at the end ofthe washing cycle or at the time the machine initially is started.Shortly after the movement of valve 81, the projection 218 drops intothe notch 2H so as to stop the electric motor.

Although only one form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications may be made without departing from the scopeof the claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An automatic washing machine comprising a rotary clothes receptacleand a drive unit for rotating the receptacle, said unit comprising ahydraulic motor for driving the receptacle, means for supplying liquidunder pressure to the motor, means including a pair of valves forcontrolling flow of the liquid to the motor, the first of said valvesbeing movable between two positions and in one position causing liquidto flow to the motor to turn it in one direction and in the otherposition causing the liquid to flow to the motor to turn it in the otherdirection, the second valve being movable from a first position where itallows a reduced fiow of liquid to a second position where it allows alarger flow so as to increase the speed of the motor, and automaticmeans for operating the valves in predetermined relation.

2. An automatic washing machine comprising a rotary clothes receptacleand a drive unit for rotating the receptacle, said unit comprising ahydraulic motor for driving the receptacle, means for supplying liquidunder pressure to the motor, means including a pair of valves forcontrolling fiow of the liquid to the motor, the first of said valvesbeing movable between two positions and in one position causing liquidto flow to the motor to turn it in one direction and in the otherposition causing the liquid to flow to the motor to turn it in the otherdirection, the second valve being movable from a first position where itallows a reduced flow of liquid to a second position where it allows alarger flow so as to increase the speed of the motor, automatic meansfor moving the first valve back and forth between its two positions soas to effect periodically reversed turning of the receptacle, andautomatic means for moving the second valve at predetermined times tochange the speed of rotation of the receptacle.

3. An automatic washing machine comprising a rotary clothes receptacleand a drive unit for rotating the receptacle, said unit comprising ahydraulic motor for driving the receptacle, means for supplying liquidunder pressure to the motor, means including a pair of valves forcontrolling fiow of the liquid to the motor, the first of said valvesbeing movable between two positions and in one position causing liquidto flow to the motor to turn it in one direction and in the otherposition causing the liquid to flow to the motor to turn it in the otherdirection, the second valve being movable from a first position where itallows a reduced flow of liquid to a second position Where it allows alarger flow so as to increase the speed of the motor, automatic meansfor moving the first valve back and forth between its two positions soas to effect reverse turning of the receptacle, automatic means formoving the second valve at predetermined times to change the speed ofrotation of the receptacle, and means operable automatically to maintainthe first valve in one of its positions only when the second valve isshifted and held in the position to which it is shifted.

4. An automatic washing machine comprising a rotary clothes receptacleand a drive unit for rotating the receptacle, said unit comprising ahydraulic motor for driving the receptacle, means for supplying liquidunder pressure to the motor, means including a pair of valves forcontrolling flow of the liquid to the motor, the first of said valvesbeing movable between two positions and in one position causing liquidto flow to the motor to turn it in one direction and in the otherposition causing the liquid to fiow to the motor to turn it in the otherdirection, the second valve being movable from a first position where itallows a reduced flow of liquid to a second position where it allows alarger fiow so as to increase the speed of the motor, automatic meansfor moving the first valve back and forth between its two positions soas to effect reverse turning of the receptacle, automatic means formoving the second valve at a predetermined time to its second positionwhere the flow of liquid to the motor is increased so as to increase thespeed of the motor, and automatic means to hold the first valve in oneposition only while the second valve is in its second position.

5. An automatic washing machine comprising a rotary clothes receptacleand a drive unit for rotating the receptacle, said unit comprising ahydraulic motor for driving the receptacle, means for supplying liquidunder pressure to the motor, means including a pair of valves forcontrolling fiow of the liquid to the motor, the first of said valvesbeing movable between two positions and in one position causing liquidto flow to the motor to turn it in one direction and in the otherposition causing the liquid to flow to the motor to turn it in the otherdirection, the second valve being movable from a first position where itallows a reduced flow of liquid to a second position where it allows alarger fiow so as to increase the speed of the motor, cam controlledmeans for moving the first valve back and forth between two of itspositions so as to effect reverse turning of the receptacle, cam: meansfor moving the second valve at a predetermined time to its secondposition, and cam means for holding the first valve in one positionwhile the second valve is in its second position.

MERTON F. WILCOX.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,433,125 Edmands Oct. 24, 19221,611,895 Dienner Dec. 28, 1926 1,849,283 Crane Mar. 15, 1932 1,954,261Pierce Apr. 10, 1934 2,056,833 Davis Oct. 6, 1936 2,236,748 Chayie Apr.1, 1941 2,331,897 Dyer Oct. 19, 1943 2,475,503 Holthouse July 5, 1949

